Clock structure



Oct. 14 1924. 4 1,511,894 P. S. LUT'I 'RELL ET AL CLOCK STRUdTURE Filed Sept. 19. 22

Patented Oct. 14, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL S. LUI'TRELL, OF OAKLAND, AND PAUL C. ROSKE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFOR- NIA, A SSIGNORS TO AMERICAN CLOCK CORPORATION, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA,

A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

CLOCK STRUCTURE.

Application filed September 19, 1922.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, PAUL S. LUTTRELL and PAUL C. ROSKE, citizens of the United States, residing at Oakland, county of Ala- 5 meda, and at the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, respectively, have invented new and useful Improvements in Clock Structures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a clock mechanism and especially to that type employed in the cheaper grades of clocks, such as kitchen clocks, alarm clocks, etc.

There are a number of clock structures, both of the cheaper and better grades manufactured today, but the majority of them is so constructed and assembled that repair, in

case of breakage, is out of the question, that is the average Watchmaker, due to the inaccessibility of the parts and the difiiculty' of assembling the same, charges more for repair work than the entire clock mechanism is worth. Practical experience shows that the average structure of this character must be completely taken apart even though the mechanism to be repaired or replaced only forms a minor part of the structure. Experience also shows that the main spring and the alarm actuating spring, together with the surrounding barrels and winding mechanism associated therewith are the parts most frequently broken, and as these parts are usually dillicult to remove and replace, repair thereof is seldom under-- taken.

Having a general knowledge of clock structures and being familiar with the de fects and facts above stated, we have sought to generally improve and simplify clock structures of the character described. First, by generally improving and simplifying the mechanism as a whole and the assembly thereof; secondly by so arranging the individual parts of the mechanism that they may be readily removed or replaced for repair, etc. without difiiculty or undue loss of time; and third by arranging and assembling certain groups of the mechanism that they may be removed and replaced as individual units without disturbing the remaining mechanism.

Serial No. 589,125.

Further objects will hereinafter appear. The invention consists of the parts and the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more fully de ally consists of a front and rear plate, such as indicated at. 2 and 3. These plates are interspaced and are so maintained by stud bolts such as indicated at 4, 5, 6 and 7. These bolts are disposed. at the respective corners of the main frame and are. secured in place by nuts 8 as indicated. The several parts of the clock mechanism employed, such as the main spring, the gear train ac tuated thereby, the balance wheel, the escapement, etc, are journaled between the plates 2 and 3 and as such cannot be removed except by releasing one of the frame plates, for instance that indicated at 2. The plate 2 is held in position, as previously stated by means of the four nuts indicated at 8, and all of these must be released before the plate 2 can be removed. Removal of this plate releases the entire mechanism and considerable trouble and time is lost in replacing the same when assembling the fication the parts most subject to wear and breakage are those associated with the main spring and the alarm actuatlng spring. The springs are also sub ect to breakage and our object is to so support and mount these groups of mechanism that they may be removed as individual units without releasing or in any way disturbing the main frame plates 2 and 8, between which the major portion of the mechanism is disposed. This is accomplished as follows: By referring to Figs; 1, 2 and 3, it will be seen that a pair of supplemental bearing plates such as in dicated at O and D has been provided. The plate C carries the main spring, together with associated winding and driving mechanism. while the plate D carries the alarm spring with associated winding and driving mechanism. The main frame plate 2 is cut away, as indicated by the dotted line at 9, to receive the main spring 10, the barrel 11 enclosingthe same, and the winding mechanism connected therewith, as generally indicated at 12. The main frame plate 2 is also cut away as indicated by dotted line at 14, to receive the alarm spring together with the enclosing barrel and associated mechanism. The bearing plates in dicated at C and D are identical in con-- struction and the mechanism supported thereby is similarly so, and we will for this reason only explain the specific structure of the plate C.

By referring to Figs. 1 and 3, it will be seen that the exterior contour or general shape of the plate C may be such as the particular clock mechanism or structure employed may demand, and may for this reason be varied. Formed on one end. of

this plate is a projecting lug 15, which is adapted to be received by a slot 16 formed in the main frame plate 2. Formed at the opposite end of the bearing plate is a slot 17, which permits straddling of the stud bolt 7, and adapted to engage this end of the bearing plate and secure it in a position is a washer and a nut 8, as indicated. The bearing plate has jonrnalled therein a ratchet gear 18, and it iturthermore carries a pivotally mounted pawl l9 and a spring: 20 whereby engagement is maintained between the pawl and near 1.8. The ratchet gear 18 is as previously stated, journalled in bearing plate C so it is free to rotate therein; the rotation being in one direction as it is positively locked against reverse rotation by pawl 19. The ratchet gear is furthermore locked against endwisefmove ment in the plate and as such forms a permanent attachment or part thereof. Such. endwise movement is prevented by an inner annular flange 21. Formed centrally of the ratchet gear is a square or, as hereshown, hexagonal opening 22, and extendii'lg therethrou h is a hub member of similar shape as indicated at 23. see Figs. 2 and 1. The spring barrel 11 1s riveted, flanged or other wise secured to the inner end of the hub member so as to rotate in unison therewith when the main spring 10 is to be wound and it will to this extent form a permanent part of the hub member :23, This hub member forms several functions, first that of rotating the barrel when the spring is .to be wound; secondly that of retaining the barrel against reverse movement when the clock is in operation; third that of a support for the barrel and spring' contained therein; fourth that of a bearing member for the inner end of the s aindle indicated at 24-, and fjth it supports the winding key generally indicated at 25; the outerend of the hub beinn threaded to receive a threaded extension or shank on the key as indicated at 536.

The main spring 10 is secured at its outer end to the barrel in any suitable manner, but preferably as here shown by engagement with a hook portion :27. wiich is pressed out of the rim of the barrel as shown in Fig. 4;. The inner end is secured to the dr' ing; spindle 24: in the usual manner by engaging it with the pin 28.

A spring unit constructed and supported. as here shown may obviously be removed in its entirety without releasing" or in any way disturbing the main frame plates or the mechanism supported thereby as it is only necessary to release the nut 8 and to lift the bearing-plates C upwardly to disengage the lug; 15. This operation can be quickly and readily accomplished and the time element'involved should therefore be of no consequence or expense. and another new unit may be placed in the same fraction of time and the total cost should in a case of this kind not amount to much more than the actual cost of the mechanism replaced. Repairing of alarm clocks and cheaper grades of mechanisms of this character can be cheaply and readily accomplished and excess charges for such work will be entirely avoided.

The alarm spring. together with the nieclmnisin associated with and actuated thereby identical to that illustrated in connection with the m'ainsprinn. It is fur thermore removed and replaced in an identical manner and a detail description thereof is for this reason thought unnecessary.

From the foregoing description it should be obvious that one of the important features of the present invention is the provision of auxiliary bearing plates such as indicated at C and D. which may be quickly and readily removed without disturbing the remaining mechanism. Another important feature is that the main and alarm springs and associated moclninism are entirely carried and supported by these plates and may therefore be removed in unison with the same. Another important feature is the provision of a smring; barrel. such as indicated at 11. which. is adapted to rccei 1 and enclose the springs whether it he the .main or alarm spring; these spring barrels being permanently attached to hub members 23, which may be readily removed with rela tion lo their respectiv ratchet gears and the unit shown in Fig. 4; the unit indicated in F 3 being retained it is subject to so little wear and strain that breakage of anyol the parts employed is rather improb able and would at least seldom occur. A watchmaker in making such a repair would therefore only have to replace the barrel and spring and thereby further reduce the cost of such repairs.

lVhile certain i eatures of the present invention are more or less specifically illus trated, we wish it understood that various changes in form and proportion may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims, similarly that the materials and finish oi the several parts employed may be such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate or various uses may demand.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a clock mechanism of the character described the combination with the main frame plate, of a bearing plate carried there'- by, a main driving spring and associated winding mechanism attached to said bearing plate, a projection on one end of the bearing plate, said main frameplate having means for receiving the projection on the bearing plate and to form an interlocking connec tion, and means for securing" the other end of the bearing plate with relation to the main frame plate.

2. In a. clock mechanism of the character described the, combination with the main frame plate and the bearing plate associated therewith, of a lug formed on one end of said bearing plate and having a slot formed in its opposite end, said main plate also having a slot formed therein to receive said lug, a screw carried by the main plate adapted to be straddled by said slotted portion oi the bearing plate, and a nut on said screw to secure the slotted end of the bearing plate.

In a clock mechanism of the character described, a main frame, a detachable bearing plate carried thereby, a ratchet wheel journaled in said bearing plate, a pawl and spring also carried by the plate and cooperating with the ratchet wheel to lock it against rotation'in one direction, and means securing the ratchet Wheel against endwise movement with relation to the bearing plate. i

4-. In a clock mechanism oli'the character described, a main frame, a detachable bearlug plate carried, thereby, a ratchet wheel journaled in said hearing plate, a pawl and spring also carried by the plate and cooperating with the ratchet wheel to lock it against rotation in one direction, means securing the ratchet wheel against endwise movement with relation to the bearing plate, a hub member endwise movable in the ratch et gear, means securing said hub member against turning movement with relation to the ratchet gear, a spring barrel secured. to one end of the hub member and a spring within said barrel.

5. In a clock mechanism of the character described, a main frame, a detachable bearing plate carried thereby, a ratchet wheel journaled in said bearing plate, a pawl and spring also carried by the plate and cooperating with the ratchet wheel to lock it against rotation in onedirection, means securing the ratchet wheel against endwise movement with relation to the bearing plate, a hub member endwise movablein the ratchet gear, means securing said hub member against turning movement with relation to the ratchet gear, a spring barrel secured to one end of the hub member, a spring within said barrel, a spindle extending through the spring and the barrel, and having one end j ournaled in the hub, means for securing one end of the spring to said spindle and the opposite end to the barrel, and a winding key detachably secured with relation to said hub member.

6. In a clock mechanism of the character described the combination with the detachable bearing plate, of a ratchet gear journaled in said plate, said gear having a hexagonal shaped central opening formed therein, means securing said. gear against endwise movement in the plate, a spring retaining barrel and a. hub member forming a part thereof, said hub member having a heX- agonal exterior shape to permit endwise insertion in the ratchet gear and removal with relation thereto.

7. In a clock mechanism of the character described a spring enclosing barrel, a hub member forming an integral part thereof, a spindle adapted to be driven by the spring in the barrel, said spindle being endwise removable with relation to the spring and the barrel, and a. bearing member in one end of the hub to receive said spindle.

8. In a clock mechanism of the character described, a spring enclosing barrel, a hub member forming an integral part thereoi, a hexagonal surface formed on the exterior of the hub, a ratchet gear journaled in the clock, and having a hexagonal shaped central opening formed therein to receive the hub, and to permit endwise removal of the hub and the barrel.

9. In 1v clock mechanism of the character described the combination with the main frame and the TTIQChZll'llSH] carried thereby, of an auxiliary bearing plate enrrierl hy the 6 lrzune, mid main frame being: slatted to receive u lug: formed on one end of the bearing plate, and. to permit a liingelike nmreinent of the bearing plate With relation to the main frame to permit insertion or re inovul thereof, and means carried by the 10 main frame for securing the opposite end (if the bearing plate.

PAUL LUTTRELL. PAUL C. ROSKE. 

